Battle Royale

[OkashiraShinomori]

How many people have read this tremendously excellent book by Takami Koushun?

For those who haven't, or for those who need a refresher, it's the story of a semi-alternate universe post-war Japan in which, rather than opening trade and contact with other nations as they did in reality, they once again close themselves off from the rest of the world, installing a leader known only as "The Dictator" as the head of the country, though many believe him to be a mere figurehead concocted by the parliament. Population booms, and in order to control it and to enfore direct control on the population through fear, "The Program" or "Battle Royale" is instituted.

It is a law decreeing that (on an unknown schedule, annualy, monthly, bi-monthly?) one class of third-year middle schooler students are taken to a sealed location, be it an island, mountain, cleared-out city area, armed with extremely various weapons (ranging from a fork to a fully automatic machine gun) and, through a clever system of remotely and locally activated explosive collars, force the students to murder one another until one remains.

((Sweat-drops)) Yeah, it sounds really really morbid, especially for as nice a forum as this, but it's really an excellent and moving book. I highly suggest it to those who haven't had the pleasure of reading it yet.

 

[GladiariaAlata]

((Raise hand)) Didn't know you've been reading/watching that, padawan!

There's a period where I was quite crazy about the movie. Imagine my disappointment when I finally got the DVD for the second way and it suddenly went...lame. I've used the first movie for my English film review assignment in my high school years and got away with a B+, so yay!

It's certainly deeper than usual killing and bloodshed. It explores the thin line between love and hate, live and death, determination and despire, among others. It portrayed different people--teenagers in particular--in real life. This is definitely a Priority One!

 

[OkashiraShinomori]

A very well-stated summary of it's deeper points, Shishou. If I were to recommend any one version of it to someone who knew nothing about this wonderful story, I would recommend the novel first and foremost. The description is excellent, the characters are evolved and life-like throughout, and the plot extremely deep, and actually uplifting. The movie is an easy second best, despite the lack of character development from plot restraints (and the aforementioned dismall sequel). It even stars "Beat" Takeshi in the role of "evil" instructor.

But if there's one to avoid, it's the manga. It's highly inappropriate for anyone under the legal age to view...questionable materials in your respective country, and I plain don't like the style, myself. It does stay very true to the book except for the random interludes that seem to involve only Mitsuko...

By and far, one of my favorite scenes of the movie is the one very near the end when Kitano (I THINK that's what they call him in the movie; it seems to change with each media) answers his cell phone for the final time. That was SO surprising. XD

 

[Argy]

I have the book. It was excellent. I really want to see the movie but it unfortunately has not been licensed in the United States.

 

[OkashiraShinomori]

I have an imported copy of the Chinese version of the movie, thankfully with the original Japanese track and English subtitles. And since it follows the book fairly closely, it was rather easy to follow.